QUESTION TIME by Fr John Flader

QUESTION TIME by Fr John Flader

Fr Anthony Robbie

QUESTION TIME
by Fr John Flader
(Foreword by Cardinal George Pell)
(Catholic Adult Education Centre, 2008, 310pp, $29.95.
Available from Freedom Publishing)

Why is holy water being removed from some church fonts during
Lent, asks one of Fr Flader's correspondents? Because the
unfortunate clergy did not have access to this splendid book in
time, we might reply. Fr Flader's reply is, naturally, more
measured and scholarly and also a very tactful one. Those who know
Fr John Flader know him to be the very soul of courtesy and
gentleness and these qualities are well employed in answering the
many timely and pointed questions that appear in his Catholic
Weekly (Sydney) column, and here extracted and accumulated.

He does not avoid the controversial. Many of his questions are
on subjects regularly proposed as areas where the Church has lagged
behind the world. Here they appear, in the treatment they deserve,
with objections faced head on and honestly answered. Women priests
are here and the celibacy of the clergy. Freemasons, homosexuality
and divorce, those topics beloved of the media are explained
succinctly and tactfully.

It would be wrong, however, to see this as a work of
apologetics. Many questions are by way of explanations of the
curious detail - why water is added to wine or the background to
the Miraculous Medal.

Most, however, are practical explanations of questions that many
people (not just Catholics) might ask or find themselves asked, and
wonder how to reply: Did Jesus know He was God or What will happen
at the end of time?

The book is divided into four sections, following the
traditional division of catechisms - doctrine, sacraments, morality
and prayer. It is an easy book to find one's way around.

As a parish priest I can testify that the questions in this book
are real ones, constantly raised in the pastoral context and which
I myself have been called on to answer many times, but without the
graceful and kindly responses which Fr Flader provides.

This is a book for those who are sincerely seeking the answers
to questions about Catholic belief and practice. They will not be
disappointed or fobbed off with dissembling responses which reveal
only an author's unwillingness to stand by unpopular positions.

Best of all, here are gathered together some very useful
references to documents and official positions, not always easy to
come across (for example, concerts in churches, Q. 47). While Fr
Flader's deep learning and careful research are in evidence, his
clarity of argument makes this a very accessible resource for all
readers.